Street-car sign



(No Model.)

2 Sheets--Sheet 1. G. E. WBIS.

STREET GAR SIGN. No. 586,583. Patented July 20, 1897.

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G. E. WEIS. STREET CAR SIGN.

No. 586,583. Patented July 20,1897.

...wm m Y III UNITnn. STATES PATENT OFn1cE.

GEORGE ED. VEIS, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

ssi-Fnalar-CARV SIGN.

SPECIFIGATIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,583, dated Application filed March 2'7, 1897. Serial No. 629,590. (No model.)

July 20, 1897.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE En. Wnis, a citizen of the United States, residing atReading, in the county of Berks and State of'Penn- Sylvania, have invented a new and useful Street-Car Sign, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that classof sign apparatus applied tostreet-cars to convey to the public the destination, route, the name of 'the line, or other information which it may be desirable to impart. Apparatus of this kind is constructed so as to be readable by day or night, being illuminated after dark,

so as to cause the sign matter to stand outin bold relief.

The present invention is designed to enable the rotatable sign cylinder or drum to be removed quickly when the car changes its destination or is transferred to another line, so as to be substituted by one bearing the proper matter or information to be conveyed to the traveling public.

A further purpose of the invention is to so mount the illuminating mechanism whereby injury thereto is obviated by the jolt and jar ci the car or by comparatively rough handling, the supporting means for the illuminator being light to avoid casting deep shadows and being disposed so as to strengthen the frame-bars of the cylinder or drum comprisin g the sign apparatus.

l further purpose of the invention is to improve the general constructionfof the aforesaid class of apparatus and increase their eiectiveness and usefulness, whereby repairs can be readily effectedand are not frequently required, as the parts are so constituted as not to be liable under ordinary usage to become disarranged or disabled.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without depart- -ing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, andto a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a frontview of a-sign apparatus for street-cars as it will appear when constructed in accordance with thsinvention. Fig. 2 is alongtudnal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectiomon the line X X of Fig. 1, the dotted lines showing the stormdoor thrownback out of the Way. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of an end bearing for the rotatable sign cylinder or drum. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the means for securing the sign cylinder or drum in an adjusted position'. Fig. 6 is a detail View showing the channeled bar between sections of a sign-Slat. l.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference-ch aracters.

The rotatable sign cylinder or drum consists of a frame of skeleton form and comprising ends l and 2 and longitudinal bars 3, the latter being secured in any substantial manner at their extremities to the end pieces 1 and 2. The longitudinal bars 3 are channeled or grooved and receive sign plates or slats 4 ot' translucent material to admit of the light making readable the matter imprinted thereon at night, andthese plates or slats maybe of a single length or provided in sections which have theiropposing ends fitted into channeled bars of lead 5, secured at their eX- tremities to adjacent bars 3. The longitudinal bars 3,are strengthened and braced at a point between ltheir ends by a spider in the form of an annulus 6 and arms 7, radiating from the annulus and securedat their outer ends to the bars 3. This spider also constitutes a supportfor the ill liminator and centralizes the latter, which in the present instance is an incandescent lamp mounted loosely in the annulus 6, so as to admit of the sign cylinder or drum turning Without twisting the conductors leading to the lamp. In order to prevent injury to the lamp from rough handling or the jolting or jarring of the car, the annulus 'is provided with a gasket or cushioningring 8, which is retained in place between the iianged edges of the annulus, as clearly indicated. I

The casing or housing for the operatinfr mechanism is approximately of cylindrical form and comprises upper and lower parts,

' adapted to be closed in inclement weather 'by a storm-door 14, the movable part 9 of the casing and secured vby a catch 15, applledtofh'e lower part 10.

hinged to thefree edge of This storm-door co prises a frame and a glass panel, the latter protecting.` the opening 13 without obstructing the matter in position to be read. When not required, the storm-door may be thrown back cut of the way, as indicated by the dotted lines in lig. 3, or it may be removed, as the hinges-are separable by reason of the pintles being detachable.

The sign cylinder or drum is mounted so as to turn freely about a longitudinal axis and is provided at one end with a fixed journal 16 and atits opposite end with a plate 17, bolted or otherwise detachably connected with the end 2 and apertured to receive a hollow journal 18, applied tothe adjacent end of the casing, said cylinder being heldx from longitudinal displacement in one direction by means of a collar 19, secured to the journal 18 by a binding-screw, and in the op posite direction by the end of the' journal 16, engaging with the inner end of a bearing 20,

for-medwith or applied to aplate 21, having detachable connection with the end of the casing. Like plates 21 have similar connection with the ends of the casing and operate in guides 22, applied to the inner sides of the said ends, and have their upper edges bent,

as shown at 23, to engage over the top edges of the said ends. Bolts or like fastenings 24 ,secure the plates 21 to their respective ends,

and when removed admit of th'e plates 21 being slipped from the guides 22 and detached from the casing. Each plate has a bearing 20, in which operates the journal 16 or which.

receives the journal 18. By having the bent portions 23 extend over the ends of the casing the plates 21 are prevented from slipping.

-when the fastenings 24 are not in place, and

they serve as stops to'be engaged'by the hand or an instrument when it is required to remove the plates to change the sign-cylinder.

When it is required to remove the sign cylinder or drum forV any reason, the plate 21,

adjacent to the journal l16, Vis loosened and detached, and the plate 17 being loosened and disengaged from the end piece2 is slipped upon the hollow journal 18, and 1t and the socket portion of the lamp are passed through an opening 25 in the end piece 2, thereby freeing the; cylinder, as will be readily understood. v The electrical conductors 26 pass through the hollow journal 18 and connect with a convenient portion of the car included apparatus at the required points.

in the circutt, therebyadmtting of a signcylinder being removed or placed in position without disturbing the electrical connection.

The operating mechanism forturning the sign-cylinder consists of a ruiter-gear 27, secured on the fixed journal 16', and a companion miter gear 28, interrneshing with the ruiter-gear 2 7\a'nd secured on a shaft or rod 29, passing vertically through the casing and the car and extendingr^ within convenient reach of the motorman or other person whose duty it is to attend to the shifting of the sign A disk 30 vone of the blocks 12-and through the roof of is secured to the shaft 29 below the roof of the car and has a series of vopenings 31,'corresponding in number with the sides of the cylinder or drum, and these openings are indicated by designating-characters, so that the person shifting the'sign may be apprised v when the required one is in position opposite the observation-opening.

A catch 32 is adapted to enter one of the openings 31 andlock the sign cylinder or drum against rotation in eitherdirection until released, which is effected by means of a cord or chain 33, having connection with the catch 32 and provided with a handle within convenient reach, so as to be drawn upon to release the catch whenit is required to shift or turn the cylinder to bring a new sign in position to be read.

- The signcylinder o-r drum as shownis hexagonal, although it may be of any desired po- ,lygonal outline, according to thenumber of signs to be displayed. Metal plates 34 are secur`ed to the end pieces of the cylinder or drum opposite the spaces formed between the long itudinal bars 3, and their outer ends are bent s`o as to extend over the sign platesorslats to retain the latter in place. One. set of these plates is of lead, so as to be readily bent to admit of the sign-plates being removed or placed in position.

ros

It will be understood that the fastenings 24 for the .plates 21 may be dispensed with, as the lsaid plates will be held `in place by the cover or part 9 engaging with the upper bent ends thereof, thereby greatly facilitating the removal of the sign-cylinder when required. rlhe number of illuminators may be varied to suit the size of the sign and may be disposed as found most convenient. f

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. vIn a sign apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a vrotatable sign drum or cylinder, of a spider located within the said cylinder and comprising an annulus and arms, the latter being secured at their extremities to the frame-bars ofir the cylinder, and an illuminator or lamp supported 'solel y by means of' the spider whereby the signdrum is free to rotate and thelamp will re- VIs 586,583 v 'l A a cylinder or drum, of a spider bracing and connecting the frame-bars of the said cylinder at a point about midway ofl their ends, and comprising an annnlus, a gasket or cushioning-ring located within the annulns, and an illu minato r or lamp loosely supported within the said gasket or cushioning-ring whereby the sign-drum is free to rotate and the lamp will remain stationar substantially as speciiled.

In a sign apparatus for the purpose described, the combination with the rotatable sign cylinder or drum, of a spider comprising 'an annulus and radial arms secured at their outer ends to the frame-bars of the cylinder, the annulus having inner flanges at its edges, a gasket or cushioning-ring secured between the flanges of the annnlus, and an illuminator or lamp loosely supported within the cushioning-ring whereby the sign-drum is free to rotate and the lamp will remain stationary, substantially in the manner set forth for the purpose speciiied.

4. In a sign apparatus for street-cars, the combination of a casn g, a rotatable sign cylinder or drum, a plate provided with a bearing forming a support for a journal of the said cylinder, and having detachable connec tion with the casing, and having a portion bent to engage overan edge of the casin'g,

and means for securing the said plate in po- Y sition, substantially as set forth.

5. In a sign apparatus for street-ears, the combination of a easing having guides at an end, a rotatable sign cylinder or drum, a plate provided with a hearing to receive a journal of the said cylinder and mounted in the aforesaid guides, and having an end portion bentto engage over an edge of the casing, and means for securing the plate, substantia-ll y as set forth.

(i. In a street-car sign apparatus, the comgaging with the aforesaid plate to prevent longitudinal displacement ofthe cylinder,

substantially as set forth. Y

i 7. A street-car sign apparatus comprising a casing composed of vupper and lewe'. parts secu red together at 011e edge by a hinge-joint, t-he lower part having an observation-ope ing, a storm-door applied to the free edge of the upper part and adapted to close the said observation-opening, ,a rotatable sign cylin-` der or drum removably mounted within the casing, means for turning the cylinder, a graduated disk or plate secured tothe shaft by means of which the cylinder is turned, and having a series of openings, a catch cooperating with the openingsof the disk Vor plate tol indicate the relative-position of the cylinder and hold it in the located position,

-and a cord or chain having connection with the catch and extending within convenient reach to be drawn upon to release the catch, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

eno;v En. wEIs.

Witnesses:

(ams. A. Sra-mss, (mMEnoN E. Srnauss. 

